Premature Ejaculation
What is Premature Ejaculation?
Premature ejaculation (PE) is the inability to delay ejaculation such that it creates dissatisfaction or distress with sexual performance. PE happens to almost all men at some stage in their life, but is reported to be a more constant problem in up to 30% of men. The International Society of Sexual Medicine has defines PE as either:
- Lifelong: ejaculation occurs too early in nearly every sexual encounter and is typically <1 minute
- Acquired: new onset PE, usually the result of an identifiable source and the patient has experienced normal ejaculations in the past, typically <3 minutes.
What are the Symptoms of Premature Ejaculation?
- Always or nearly always ejaculate within 1 to 3 minutes of penetration
- Inability to delay ejaculation during sex most or all of the time
- Feelings of distress and frustration, and avoidance of sexual intimacy because of PE
What Causes Premature Ejaculation?
For optimal erectile function to occur in a sexually relevant context, we need a calm nervous system, normal nerve supply, adequate blood flow, and good pelvic floor muscle control. The muscles at the base of the penis, called your superficial pelvic floor muscles create a pumping action that helps expel semen out of the penis. Tension or weakness in these muscles can affect the function of the erection and lead to premature ejaculation.
There is no single cause of premature ejaculation and while it can occur for anyone at any stage, however the following may contribute to premature ejaculation:
- High stress or anxiety levels
- Concern over sexual performance
- Relationship breakdowns
- Low self-esteem
- A history of sexual trauma or abuse
- Nerve injury or trauma to the pelvic floor
- Hypothyroidism
- Chronic prostatitis
- Family history
- Medications
What is Involved in Diagnosing Premature Ejaculation?
Most men will experience PE at some stage throughout their lifetime, but if it is persistent and distressing you should consult your medical doctor for a formal diagnosis. You do not however, need a diagnosed condition to seek treatment for PE at Sydney Pelvic Clinic (SPC). Our approach at SPC is to optimise your pelvic floor muscle function and improve your control during sexual play. We will guide you with a management plan tailored to your individual situation. Your assessment will include questions around your sexual function, as well as a pelvic floor examination using transperineal ultrasound, palpation, as well as a possible digital rectal examination.
What is the Treatment for Premature Ejaculation?
Our approach at SPC is to optimise your pelvic floor muscle function and improve your control during sexual play. This might include pelvic floor strength training, or pelvic floor downtraining, depending on what we find throughout our assessment. We will guide you with a management plan tailored to your individual situation. We are happy to work in conjunction/collaboration with psychologists/sex therapists if you are addressing any psychological contributors to PE such as performance anxiety. This combined approach, treating both the body and the mind, can give you the best change of overcoming PE.
Are There Any Home-based Treatment Options?
You will be given a home exercise program that is designed to optimise your pelvic floor muscle and improve your control. This may include pelvic floor relaxation programs, pelvic yoga, pelvic floor strength training and even cutting-edge technologies like Emsella, which boosts pelvic floor muscle function. In each instance, premature ejaculation treatment is individualised to help you overcome, and ultimately eliminate, this hurdle.
Get Treatment for Premature Ejaculation
Here at Sydney Pelvic Clinic, we offer each of these solutions and more to ensure a premature ejaculation remedy that really gets to the heart of this problem. Don’t let your intimate life suffer any longer; book an appointment with us for the personalised premature ejaculation solution you’ve struggled so long to find anywhere else.
